------------------------------------------------------Hey dad, so what do I do now?Go to school.Done. Hey dad, what now?Get a job.Done. What now?Get married.Done. What now? Buy a house. Done. What now? Have kids.Done. What now? Work long and hard... and then retire and slowly wither away in your old age. ------------------------------------------------------

If you are society's bitch, this is very likely what your "happy" life blue print will look like. Almost everyone does this, and it's not a coincidence: people do as they are told. Told by the movies, by their friends and family, books, tradition, religion, even government subsidies, and the education system, conditioned into obedience. So they, what are the odds that this is indeed everyone's dream rather than something imposed on them covertly externally, as I believe to be the case?

But just today, I've freed you from the bullshit The blueprint above is not available to you, so you have to ACTUALLY pick what you'd like to do with your life. I invite you to leave a comment below, and come up with an alternative plan. Be serious, use your imagination, and fuck doing as you are told.

I have no master plan. Life is a journey, not a destination. My plan, if it can be called that, boils down to this: "Never do something that I know I'll regret later. Stay true to my morals. Be a good person." So long as I can look back on my life and say I've stayed true to those tenets, I think I'll be satisfied with how I've lived my life. The future is only a second away after all.

So true! I'm trying to convince my boyfriend to move out of the U.S. and travel the world. I love natural beauty and would love nothing more than to go on an extended eco tour of anyplace interesting Desk jobs aren't really my thing, but I'm starting to feel trapped into getting one because of my current lifestyle. And kids...forget about them one of the biggest life crushers out there

I agree it's pretty stunning if you can find the right places...I love near a sod-grass prairie that's wonderful to hike around, and some of the state parks are decent, but I've become bored with them because I see them too much. Something refreshing is what I need, even the bison herd here and the sandhill crane migration are becoming ho-hum.

I always thought college was a huge waste of money. I went for a year anyway then dropped out. But now I'm working retail and paying bills and I don't know what else I'm supposed to do with my life other than the prescribed formula of "live in suburbia, get married have kids, make money, die." If I think of something better and more doable then trust me I'll do it. But society's so set up to work in just that way... I'm not creative enough to know what else to do with myself

I hate to point out the obvious but...there are millions who don't get to go to school, more who don't have steady employment, many, MANY countries where you will NEVER be able to buy a home and many countries where after 'have kids' the main goal becomes 'try to keep kids alive'.

Further, the notion that that existence is somehow less-than simply because it's not the existence YOU'D choose seems rather silly, doesn't it? There are millions of people who WANT this and to put happy in quotations implies that one cannot BE happy in this situation.

When in truth, no matter WHAT you choose to do in life, it's a good bet that WHATEVER you pick, you'll spend at BEST 20% of it as 'HAPPY'.

My current plan consists of a year of film school (not a full degree, as my parents think I should, because with film, that's just a silly waste of money) and then traveling for a year, working on a few documentaries, building and living in an ecofriendly hobbit hole, growing my own food, some more travel, eventually kids, either adopted if I'm single or with my partner if I find someone to share my life with, and growing old in a nice green place, making movies, taking photographs, gardening, writing, and otherwise being happy.

Oh well.. given that I've done most of the above... already... now I am wishing to win the lottery.. and retire earlier at a young age so I can travel as much as I want.. enjoy all the little luxuries of life, perhaps do some good and help some people make their wishes come true, and pass this message along too.. as I do believe we're the makers of our own destiny and our future happiness... I hace certainly achieved all I wanted to achieve before the age of 30.. and now I'm aiming to achieve all the other stuff I always wanted.. and it's coming my way.. because I'm positive about it!

i don't understand y people just do these things. i can understand getting a job and all for the money but i have friends that immediately got married after they graduated high school. it's like.... you have your whole life to discover and they just ruin that. whats the point? i don't want to get married until im at least like... 40 XD idk. im not trying to sound like all im going to do is have sex and fun for 30 years and settle down or anything... it's just i want to discover myself and the world and its wonders before i settle down to where i can't leave and try to peruse my dreams . thats just my opinion on the matter :/

You've written my opinion word by word! As for my life, I'm not planning too much, as plans don't always work out. I will do art and whatever else I feel like. No strings attatched I also believe there's a whole world of beautiful nature out there too see, so that's what I'll do

My plan is to be happy. Right now, that means not stressing too much about my university work, laughing with my friends, and having time to spend with my boyfriend. I don't want to plan out every moment of my life; I want to live in those moments and enjoy them. I'll cross the job and marriage bridges when they are actually serious enough options to consider.

hum...well I am getting my masters in school, but I am engaged already but so far I am quite pleased with my life. I guess I do follow that typical pattern listed above, but I am happy to! I may not have children though since I have a heart defect that is not child friendly, but I will get plenty of children in my career, which takes me into the hospital working with them when they are dying or in need of help through major hospitalizations. I don't plan on withering away in my old age though! Not sure what I shall do in retirement but I am far from that, so I will see if I get there! Who knows, I could die tomorrow! Our bodies do not last forever! i live in the now moment...why look that far ahead...all you have is right now!

I've already decided to refuse half of that list, so I guess that means I won't succumb to that mediocrity of a life. As for a replacement...well, that will forever be a work in progress for me by the looks of it. Not sure if that's good or bad...

currently in college and find it a MUCH better fit than high school. possibly travel and teach English, possibly be an equine vet. as of now, unsure. keep singing, that's for sure.start an equine therapy group in another country like the one I've been volunteering in since I was twelve. possibly in Iceland. do whatever makes me happy

I've never really felt comfortable making plans before now. I ditched the formula very early in life, blessed with ADD and parents who had bigger concerns than a drop-out son. I screwed up big time in the following decade and waded through some massive self inflicted financial and emotional shit. I came out the other end humbled, but free of any large debts to speak of, gainfully self employed with a number of self-taught skills, and in possession of the knowledge that I can set my own value in the workplace.

I really can't recommend this to anyone. I married early and was incredibly lucky to find a woman who never lost her faith in me. I put the people around me through hell. I've been a deadbeat, I almost failed, and I thought it was because I had ignored the formula of school, more school, debt, work, marriage, mortgage and so on. It was a cop-out. I had to learn to take control of my own life and grab whatever opportunity presents itself.

That was long winded, but what I'm trying to say is that you don't really need that formula. Things may be more comfortable that way, but you own what happens. For me it's all about experience now. A career is just the means to an end. I want to travel, read, spend time with friends and family, and just grow in general.

The thing I'd like to do is to move into a nice little house somewhere secluded but not too far away from towns (so I can still buy things and interact with humans every now and then), perhaps atop a small mountain or somewhere deeper into a forest. I wouldn't bother about marriage or kids or anything, in fact, I'm not sure I want any of those. I'd only get the money to live like this after publishing a few books or something, maybe doing some work as a national park ranger and retiring. Heck, maybe my small settlement in the wild is where I'm posted as a ranger. Just me, nature, some close comrades - I'd be happy with myself then.

It all depends on your physical and mental ability and where you were brought up (in my opinion ) When I was a younger man, You either went to school after high school or, you went to work in a trade, or in a factory. I joined the military. My home life wasn't the best and my parents wern't in any position to pay for collage so, I left the area. I met my wife and we started a family. after a brief career.I left the military. Returned to my home town and drive a semi truck for a living. I'm home every night to deal with what ever needs to be done, My wife returned with me. She is a r.n. and is getting ready to complete her masters degree. we Have two grown children and a grand child. If we need a vacation there are plenty places to go on vacation to. Via, air craft, ship etc. The world is a lot smaller then it used to be because of the internet and modern ways to travel. I guess if you don't like the path that you travel try another path! I didint like the military way of life so, I changed my career .

My plan is to just survive high school for now. Like, I just want to graduate. I could care less if I was valedictorian or anything like that. And after that, maybe lay it chill and have a bit of fun before going to college and meeting some people and working for a degree in something I like, maybe art or design. After that, maybe travel while working and enjoying some activities and stuff, visit my dream destinations, etc. I might find a guy I like enough to get married and live with while still maintaining an outgoing lifestyle... I really don't have any specific plans for the future, so I'll improvise, haha. But my goal in life is to work hard and be active in my religion and my career.

But overall, what you wrote is pretty understandable, as that's the main mindset that everyone's told when they're younger and growing. "Do this, do that, you'll have a happy life...."

Get the fuck out of my parents house. Get a kick ass samsung as big as possible screen sized laptop with the top notch ram and i9 processorGet some crafting material and start making shit and sell it Be happy creative artist.

-Graduate from university with some sort of creative degree-Work in a job that makes me happy (but also make enough to live)(has to be creative)-Be an author / artist as well -Get a boyfriend-Travel the world again-Get married-I don't really want kids (I like kids, I just don't want to physically have them myself)-Live life to the fullest

I've thought about this a lot, especially since going into college. It's so pointless, everyone goes to college to supposedly get a job they want so they can make money. College should be a place to learn and do research, obviously no one goes just to learn. I wish money didn't exist. Wonder how society would work.Ideally I'd live with my boyfriend in a rural house near/in the wilderness, with a bunch of pets, and continue my art. All of those make me happy.

It is usually not just "get a job", but "get a 'proper' job", which is usually along the lines of "you can be a doctor, engineer or scientist. Choosing anything else is stupid and pointless."*sigh*I would like to spend my time making things for the fun of it, working on art, maybe having a nice garden too.

here a real conversation with a colleague, who out of nowhere, took an interest in my life:Coworker: "hopefully you'll find a man to see how wonderful and talented you are"Me: "I ​​doubt it very much"Coworker: why?, always there's a lid for every potMe: Well, because at first, I'm not looking for it.Coworker: but its a beautiful life plan, raise a family (insert religious monologue, divine plan, etc.) and when your children achieve their goals is a great experience, who you have to share with a husband.Me: Ok, for some people, maybe; But I see it as a cage, but its as I see it, perhaps for other women that's part of what they want to do with their life, and well, everyone should be free to choose what to do with it.Coworker: you are just afraid, giving birth is not so bad and there are many good men you can getMe: But I do not want any of that.Coworker: Not even childrens?Me: NOPECoworker: and what is what you're gonna do?Me: Well, what I do now.Coworker: but you can not be alone foreverMe: Why is it illegal?.

I love this journal!I would still go to college(I'm going to the University of Alabama next year), but afterwards, I would buy a boat and travel around the world, drawing in my sketchbook and on my computer, doing whatever I want. I would combine this with picking and choosing whatever jobs I want, making art for the most interesting and fun movie and video-game companies.

That actually sounds like a pretty good life to me... xD I also want to be able to be a good person and help others who need it, striving to be a more Christ-like person. Yes, I know you hate religion and religious people, but that is honestly where I find a lot of fulfilment and joy. Sue me. That's not what everyone wants, though, and that's fine. Freedom is choice...such as the freedom to choose a familiar, comfortable lifestyle without being labelled "society's bitch" ;^)

One would think. :/ I'm not big on marriage right now, I wouldn't mind having a family, but only the onset of kids could force me to tie down with one woman (and I'm not a player either, I just think marriage is a bit pointless).

I do think especially here in the US, there's this idea that there's only one way to live life, and it's pretty much those things you listed, in that order. Only, the word for it here is 'American Dream'. I think it's called that because you have to be asleep to believe it.

I believe it depends too much on what a person wants. If the person really likes being around loved ones, she won't mind a family-centered life objective, but some people aspire for more, and are called "immature" when they reveal they don't have plans to settle down and form a family. In fact, I believe that the label "immature" is the worst enemy of a person who has more imagination, and doesn't want to walk down the cookie-cutter beaten path.

If a person wants to have a happy family, and doesn't mind sustaining said family through a traditional line of work, I guess they can work it out just fine. But if a person wants more, if a person really wants to know, learn, create, travel, be around non-family loved ones, they will not be as "convenient" to our media-controlled society than people who chose to follow the "algorithm" imposed by it.